CMP Expert-Grade M1's. Worth it?

[FluorideInMyWater]

So the CMP is running out of stock on everything they once had plenty of, especially M1-Garands. They do still have the "expert" models that have been converted to .308 caliber with a new barrel and new CMP walnut stock. $1100 for most and $1300 for WRA version....
Does anyone have one of these and are willing to give their opinion on the rifles "conductibility" as well as performance? i was thinking about the WRA ($1300)....which i could always get an original stock for if i really wanted, b/c WRA receivers and rifles are becoming scarce. i saw one sold @ auction for $2200. but as for the performance and practicality, i'm guessing you still can't use commercial loads in the 308 b/c of the pressure (an assumption).
does anyone have one that can comment on getting one of these as opposed to going outside the CMP and hunting one down at auction? what is the action like compared to the 30-06?
what do you fellas think? i think that they are all original parts except for the barrel (308), new CMP-Stock, and i think they stamp 308 on the bolt. are there other parts that are changed that i'm not aware of?
thanks!

[Sputnik]

When I bought mine they were called CMP Special grade; new Criterion barrel, new stock, re-parked (?) receiver. Mine’s 30-06 though.
It shoots great. Very accurate or as accurate as I can get with my eyesight and irons, never a malfunction, and it looks great, too.
I can’t imagine the.308s being any different, functionally, though I have no knowledge of the cosmetics on the latest offerings.

[sickboybrad]

I have one or more in 308
Not sure what the grade was called when I got them.
them.
Everything is refinished or new.
I don't consider them a collector item.
I have shot 762 and 308 just the normal stuff (147 or 150 gn), because thats all i have

They are great shooting rifles in 308, and i dont see a problem buying one or two.
If I was able to buy a cmp 308 when I started down the m1 game, I would have.

Do it!
B

[Randall_G]

I have one in .308. Springfield Armory receiver dating to 1942. Functions perfectly, though I was somewhat surprised by how much I had to move the front sight to correct the windage. Quite happy with the rifle--it's my only M1 Garand.

As you noted, I think these rifles sell on Gunbroker for considerably more than purchasing directly from CMP; don't think you can go wrong buying one (or more) before all the original receivers are gone.

[MarCat]

I am not sure I am responding to your question correctly, but I went to Anniston for the AMC, which ends up building an Expert Grade M1. It is the .30 caliber versus .308. This is a shooter, and at the price points you mention, to me, it is worth it. Accuracy with a new barrel correct head space should be at 1 MOA. The .308s are available, but I cannot speak to those since I did not go that route.

[beerman]

John C Garand never intended his rifle in 308… They shoot great though. Probably easier and cheaper to find 308 ammo over 06 these days.

[bigbossman]

John C Garand never intended his rifle in 308… They shoot great though. Probably easier and cheaper to find 308 ammo over 06 these days.

he probably would have though, if that was the current military standard when he began designing and developing.

[sickboybrad]

The m1 would have be in .276 if not changed because of the large stock piles of .30
or I could be wrong
But calguns will work perfectly and load fast. You never know until it happens

[FluorideInMyWater]

The m1 would have be in .276 if not changed because of the large stock piles of .30
or I could be wrong
But calguns will work perfectly and load fast. You never know until it happens

was that a typo?......But calguns.....? was that an autocorrect or am i just dumb and not understanding

started to do the application to buy and saw this whole new "Notary" requirement (???) didn't have to do that 15 years ago. I don't really understand why you would need to have it notarized if you are also submitting an FFL03. seems redundant to me.......... does anyone know why this was added?

[sickboybrad]

Fail
The last part was not for this post

[FluorideInMyWater]

The m1 would have be in .276 if not changed because of the large stock piles of .30
or I could be wrong
But calguns will work perfectly and load fast. You never know until it happens

it was in fact a gov. requirement during weapons selection for the new service rifle submission, that the rifle chamber the 30-06, yes, b/c they still were using the 1903 springfield and they did in fact have TONS of 30-06, so that was why they used it.......so you are correct. it was up against the M1941 Johnson rilfle that was submitted for consideration and also chambered 30-06 b/c of this requirement.

[FluorideInMyWater]

I have one in .308. Springfield Armory receiver dating to 1942. Functions perfectly, though I was somewhat surprised by how much I had to move the front sight to correct the windage. Quite happy with the rifle--it's my only M1 Garand.

As you noted, I think these rifles sell on Gunbroker for considerably more than purchasing directly from CMP; don't think you can go wrong buying one (or more) before all the original receivers are gone.

So my order form is filled out and ready to go. i have 1 WRA 308 on the form. i had 2 WRA 308s but if i'm going to be using one as my "shooter" should i spend the extra $$ for the WRA, or should i get an IHC or HRA?......WOW........just looked at the cmp page...the IHC'S ARE $1450?!?!? any reason why?? weren't the IHC's produced in the late 50's or early 60's? which model is the "newest production version"?

looks like they have some service grade springfields available. what is the current service grade quality? i heard that they were getting worse and worse compared to the ones they sold 15 years ago......any truth to that?

so i'm getting 1 WRA 308.........just trying to decide on the second rifle. could use some input on people who have them............not the 30-06 vs. 308, but the vendor vs. vendor part
thanks again!!!!

[bigbossman]

So my order form is filled out and ready to go. i have 1 WRA 308 on the form. i had 2 WRA 308s but if i'm going to be using one as my "shooter" should i spend the extra $$ for the WRA, or should i get an IHC or HRA?......WOW........just looked at the cmp page...the IHC'S ARE $1450?!?!? any reason why?? weren't the IHC's produced in the late 50's or early 60's? which model is the "newest production version"?

looks like they have some service grade springfields available. what is the current service grade quality? i heard that they were getting worse and worse compared to the ones they sold 15 years ago......any truth to that?

so i'm getting 1 WRA 308.........just trying to decide on the second rifle. could use some input on people who have them............not the 30-06 vs. 308, but the vendor vs. vendor part
thanks again!!!!

My opinion? For one intended as a shooter I'd just order the one that costs less...... unless I had a real hard-on for anything Winchester. Non-Springfield receivers are inherently worth more generally speaking, but I'm of the mind that not so much on a built non-original rifle that has no collector value. I will say that I have a match-prepped Garand in .308, and it puts me in the winner's circle almost every time I compete with it.

As far as SG rifles are concerned - the last two I bought were about 1-1/2 to two years ago. Both were very nice rifles, and very much worth every penny. I ended up selling one to a friend, and kept the other one. The thing is - no matter what they send you, it will be salable for more than you paid for it should you be disappointed. You literally can't lose. Heck, I even bought four rack grades when they were thought to be junkers, and all of them were decent shooters.

[FluorideInMyWater]

I was thinking WRA because all 8 of mine are Springfield (service & correct grade). Winchester receivers are becoming harder and harder to find, so i could always restore it to original condition......buy a Winchester correct barrel and stock. i'll shoot 1 of them and the other i would put in my M1 display cabinet. i know i want 308's b/c of the availability of ammo and i'm already set up to reload .308.

what makes the IHC so valuable? i check a few weeks ago and they were $1150.........and then they suddenly jump to $1450........or did i read it wrong 2 weeks ago? i'm pretty certain that they were $1150 in 308......or maybe they didn't offer them 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago they didn't have any service-grade rifles so perhaps these are 2 additions to their inventory that were not on the website before.....

[nbk992h]

They were out of stock and looks like recently back in stock, still same price of $1,450. I think the IHC are more desirable or some other reason for price difference